2.25.2015

First off, Octavia Spencer in this pastel blue Tadashi Shoji gown. The dress fits her great, and is such a pretty color against her skin tone. I loved the ethereal look of this too. It's so soft and fluid, and the embroidery detail is just gorgeous; especially along the hem. Her hair, make-up, and accessories complimented the look perfectly.

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston looked pretty flawless in this sparkly, nude, Versace number. I was so happy to see her in something other than black; although nude is not that much of a departure. The bead work is exquisite, and I love all the overlying panels. The color and lack of jewelry really showcase her natural beauty, but I still would have liked to see the hair more...well, done. Overall, it's a great look though, and she gets my vote for most improved.

Scarlett Johansson

I was on the fence about Scarlett Johansson's look, but ultimately decided I loved it! The emerald green, Versace gown fit like a glove. It cut a striking silhouette, and was super sexy. The choker was a bold choice, but the dress was simple enough that it enhanced rather than distracted. Her make-up looked great, and the rocker chic hair really pulled the entire look together.

Naomi Watts

Naomi Watts wore this silver and black, Armani Prive dress. It was a risky choice that paid off in spades. I loved the brick and mortar pattern, and the texture was great. Her hair was simple and sexy, and her make-up and accessories really topped off the edgy look. It was definitely one of the most interesting dresses of the night. Well done, Naomi!

Anna Kendrick

Anna Kendrick wore this lovely, coral, Thakoon dress. The halter neckline and criss-cross bodice brought a bit of glamour to what would have otherwise been a very simple dress. This is the very definition of understated elegance. Her hair and make-up are lovely too. Great look!

Anna Faris

Anna Faris wore this sparkly, white, Zuhair Murad gown. I loved the iridescent fabric and all the sparkles! I was happy to see at least one proper ballgown on the red carpet. There's really not much to say about it other than...pretty! Her hair color is gorgeous, and the dress only needed a few simple accessories to finish off the look. So, pretty, Anna!

Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett wore this statuesque, black, John Galliano number. It's simple and chic, and the frayed edges give it...well, a little edge. The statement necklace is gorgeous and really pops. The dress also highlights her gorgeous alabaster skin. She always brings it on the red carpet, and this was no exception. Absolutely lovely.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow wore this pink, Ralph and Russo Couture dress. The color looks great on her, and the fit is incredible. The flower on the shoulder and single long sleeve are the perfect amount of visual interests for the dress. Her hair and make-up was great, and those earrings are divine! Beautiful job!

Lupita Nyong'o

Lupita Nyong'o wore this stunning, pearled, Calvin Klein gown. It's absolutely gorgeous. The white looks so pretty against her dark skin, and the pearls!!! So many pearls!!! I loved her simple hair, and her make-up was perfect. Great job, Lupita!

AND FINALLY...

Emma Stone

Ultimately, I chose Emma Stone's chartreuse, Elie Saab gown as my favorite of the night. It hits all my must-haves for a great gown. It's an interesting color. It's visually interesting. It's sparkly. It was different. It's dramatic. It has long sleeves! It was a risky choice that paid off. I loved the color and wave of her hair. Her make-up was fresh...loved the coral color lip. The shoes were sexy, and the diamond cuffs a fun and unexpected choice for jewels. She looks young and hip and trendsetting; yet at the same time this is perfect old Hollywood glamour. Fabulous job, Emma!!

That's it for the 2015 Oscar dress review! Did you agree or disagree with my picks? What was your favorite of the night?

All images from here, except for Octavia Spencer's which is from here.

2.24.2015

Ready for more dresses!?! Here are the looks I thought fell in the middle of the pack.

Meryl Streep

Nominee, Meryl Streep, wore this black and white two-piece dress by Lanvin. This is her uniform, and she wears it well. It's classic, if not a little boring. I would have opted not to wear the tuxedo jacket. The black velvet of the skirt looks so luxurious, and the jacket brings the fanciness factor down a few notches. Her earrings were fun; and the hair and make-up are all up to par.

Reese Witherspoon

Nominee, Reese Witherspoon, also wore black and white. Her off-the-shoulder Tom Ford gown fit like a glove. It's very simple, but still makes a statement. I didn't love the black bands; but, again, the fit of this dress is so perfect it makes up for everything. I thought she could have gone a little bolder with the hair and make-up though, but the jewelry is pretty spectacular. Not bad, Reese!

Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington wore this two-piece, cream, Miu Miu number. There was a bit of a disconnect between the top and bottom half of this dress. There are fit issues with the top, and the embroidered satin feels a little too casual. I loved the skirt though. The beading provides nice texture, and still comes off as fluid and light. It was the right move wearing her hair down, but I would have loved to see some wave in it. Her make-up and accessories were both a little light, but her skin looks amazing!

Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie wore this lovely, black, Saint Laurent dress. I loved the slinky, boudoir feel of it. The slouchy fit actually works really well here. I thought the necklace was the wrong choice though. If there was ever a dress that should be oozing with diamonds, this is it. Her hair looked great, and the bold red lip was perfect. Well done, Margot!

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez wore an embellished nude gown by my very favorite designer, Elie Saab. I love the ethereal feel of his gowns and his amazing bead work. So, I was surprised that I didn't love this look. Except for the lavender lips (odd choice), she is head-to-toe in the same color, or non-color rather. If the dress was a different color, or her nails, or her accessories...you get the idea; there's no contrast here! All the focus is on her (surprise, surprise) boobs, and with a dress this lovely it shouldn't be. I loved the dress, but the overall look fell flat.

Viola Davis

Viola Davis wore this Zac Posen dress in a dusty rose color. There was some fit issues going on along the neckline, and I think the necklace was the wrong choice; but overall I liked this look. With her gorgeous skin color she usually rocks the jewel tone dresses, so I thought this was a nice change of pace for her that still worked. The make-up was a little heavy, but at least she brought some drama. She's also rocking her new short hairstyle. Go, Viola!

Rosamund Pike

Rosamund Pike wore this fantastic, Givenchy Haute Couture, red gown. She's struggled with her styling all awards season, so I was happy to see this pretty and pulled together look on her. The dress fits her well, has texture, a little flow, and was such a great color. I would have liked to see more jewelry, but that's really my only complaint. Her hair and make-up looked great, and those shoes are killer!

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga wore this stunning Azzedine Alaia white gown with silver detailing. The dress is actually pretty damn near perfect...just gorgeous. It's Lady Gaga though, so you know she has to bring some crazy. The red gloves were an...interesting choice? And I didn't mind the coral in her hair; it looked great, as did her make-up. Actually, my biggest complaint was how stiff she was. She held her arms out very strangely on the red carpet. As much as I loved the dress (and I did) if it constricts your movement that much then it's not the right dress.

Laura Dern

Nominee, Laura Dern, wore this Alberta Ferretti metallic number. I actually really liked the whole Joan of Arc look on her. The fabric looks like hard metal, but still has a fluidity to it. The contrast between how it looked and how it moved really worked for me. The pendent was unnecessary. The dress provides enough visual interest on its own. Her hair and make-up looked pretty great. Overall, very nice look.

Julianne Moore

Nominee and winner that night, Julianne Moore, wore this Chanel Haute Couture white gown with black accents. My only complaint with the dress was the black band around her hips. The placement was odd, and I think it would have worked better around her waist or...not at all. I loved everything else though. The dress was glamorous and had nice texture and movement. Her hair and make-up were flawless. Congratulations, Julianne!

2.23.2015

First off, the Good. All these women are far more beautiful and talented than me, and a lot of them have hit it out of the park as far as red carpet fashion goes many times before. So, it's not that these looks were bad, they just weren't my favorites of the night.

Marion Cotillard

Nominee, Marion Cotillard, wore a white Christian Dior Couture gown. I actually really loved the dress from the front. The fun circle pattern and crew neck were working for me, and I thought it was really modern and cool. However, when I saw it from the back I got sad. The black band right below her tush is such a distraction. Her hair, make-up, and jewelry were absolutely stunning though.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman wore this iridescent Louis Vuitton column dress. I bet this dress was beautiful in person, but something about the sequinned material looks kind of cheap in photos. The red belt was the wrong choice, and would have worked much better if it was gold or a pastel color. I would have also gone with gold instead of silver accessories. There are just too many clashing elements here. Her hair and make-up were so plain as well. Since she chose the red belt, why not a bold red lip to really make your face pop? I think this was a case of a pretty dress styled very, very wrong.

Jessica Chastain

Jessica Chastain wore this navy blue Givenchy number. I loved the sparkly bodice, and really wished the same fabric was used for the entire gown, or maybe it's just the scoop of fabric below her bust that wasn't working for me. I'm not sure. The dyed to match shoes give the whole look a very bridesmaid feel. A silver or gold strappy sandal would have been a much better choice. I liked her necklace, but would have liked to see more jewelry - dangly earrings or bracelets, perhaps? The hair is pretty boring, and the make-up could have been bolder...more dramatic.

Sienna Miller

Sienna Miller wore this navy and black Oscar de la Renta gown. I mostly like this gown, but there are a few things not working for me. I don't think it needed the bow on the neckline, and maybe not the middle one either. The navy blue lining should have gone all the way to the floor too. It really disrupts the visual flow of the dress. Her hair is good, and her make-up really good. Okay look, overall

Zoe Saldana

New mom, Zoe Saldana, showed off her fantastic post-baby body in this nude Atelier Versace dress. She looks pretty amazing, but I found the straps and the boning in the bodice are messing with the line of the dress. I would have preferred if this dress were strapless, as well as a different color. This is a va-va-va-voom dress that is missing a couple va-va's. Her hair and make-up are really nice though, and I liked her jewelry. Not bad.

Keira Knightley

Nominee, Kiera Knightley, wore this nude ethereal number embroidered with delicate flowers and words. This is a pretty good look for the expectant mom. I love how soft and delicate it is, and it is not easy to come off looking delicate while pregnant. So, kudos on that. The only thing not working for me is the scalloped edge of the bodice. Her hair and make-up is lovely too. Very nice.

Patricia Arquette

Winner, Patricia Arquette, wore this black and white Rosetta Getty gown. She's struggled with ill-fitting dresses the entire awards season, so I was happy to see that her gown fit her well at least. I liked the white draping over the shoulder, and black and white is always a classic combination. Her hair and make-up were well done too. As a nominee and eventual winner of the night, I was hoping for something with a bit more "wow" factor though. Overall, nice look.

Chloe Grace Moretz

Eighteen year old, Chloe Grace Moretz, wore this floral patterned Miu Miu dress. I didn't care for the pattern of this dress. It reminded me of wallpaper. There was also way too much pleating going on, and the fact that she never took her hands out of her pockets only accentuated it. Her hair was too casual, but I liked her make-up and the awesome earring cuff.

Dakota Johnson

Dakota Johnson wore this slinky, red Saint Laurent number. I thought this was a descent presenter dress. It's not very flattering along the bust though, but I did like the detailing on the shoulder. Her hair isn't the best, but her make-up and jewelry are both en pointe.

Felicity Jones

Nominee, Felicity Jones, wore grey Alexander McQueen for the big event. I loved the color and the ballgown silhouette (which, surprisingly, not many wore). This dress is all about the bodice though, and it seemed a little off to me - the halter neckline really distracts. I would have preferred to see the dress as strapless. The beading was lovely though, and her hair, make-up, and accessories were all working for me. Not bad at all.

As lovely as all these looks were, there are even far better ones yet to come. Stay tuned!

I'm so glad I tried this recipe, because these were SUPER TASTY!!! I really enjoyed them. I was really skeptical while making them though. The beets smelled just awful after I pureed them, and the batter was a very reddish brown color that just looked off. I was very surprised when they came out of the oven looking like perfect chocolate cupcakes.

To me, they tasted more like muffins - sweet, but not too rich. Bill thought they tasted very rich. I was actually very confused why the kids did not inhale these. Madeleine only picked at hers, but declared she liked it, and Seamus ate the "muffin top," but left the rest.

I didn't love the unsweetened cocoa powder on top. When I make them again (and I definitely will), I think I'll just sprinkle them with powdered sugar.

2.18.2015

A couple of weeks ago I read One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by B.J. Novak. I've been a fan of his since The Office, and actually gave this book to Bill for his birthday back in November. I decided to read it as part of the Popsugar 2015 Reading Challenge and with it, checked off "A book of short stories".

First, I wanted to say how much I enjoyed just reading some short stories for a change. It was so nice to get a complete story without a huge investment of time. I kept the book on my nightstand, and every night would read a couple. Since every chapter (story) brings complete closure, I never felt that compelling need to stay up late reading just one more chapter to get a bit more information. This is such a great genre, as it provides the satisfaction of reading good fiction, but requires little time commitment from you.

Now, for the actual book, I thought it was pure fun. B.J. Novak strikes me as a bit of an odd duck, and his stories reflected that. They were all a little off-kilter, but for the most part, I found them to be funny and entertaining. Such a good read.

Next up, we added B.J. Novak's The Book With No Pictures to the kid's library. I picked this book up as soon as it came out last October, and then gave it to Madeleine for Christmas. It's not often that I'm reading the same author as the kids, so I thought this would be the perfect time to share it with you.

First, I loved how similar the book covers were in style.

Next, the book itself is so much fun. It is exactly as the title states - no pictures. You know it has to be good then, if it has no pictures and still thoroughly entertains my 4 year old.

And how does it entertain them, you ask? Well, by making you read a whole bunch of silly words.

That's right. You're obligated to read every word on the page, no matter how ridiculous it may be. That's how books work!! It's hilarious, and such a refreshing change of pace. Madeleine loves it, and even better, I enjoy reading it to her. As far as children's books go, you can't get much better than that.

2.16.2015

Bill and I had the best evening. We got all dressed up and went to a fancy dinner and show, and by that I mean we donned Rangers gear, ate concession stand food and watched a hockey game.

It was so romantic.

It actually was romantic and lots of fun too. Our rare date nights usually consist of us getting out to see a movie, so this was a nice change of pace. It was fun to be out together surrounded by a bunch of people, all of us sharing the same experience. I love live events, and I love being with Bill - so win/win for me.

We were there to cheer on the New York Rangers, Bill's favorite team. Wisconsin has no NHL team, so he adopted the Rangers as his team ages ago. As I was not really a hockey fan prior to meeting him, I jumped on the Rangers bandwagon after we started dating. Together, we've seen them play in New York, Chicago, and now Phoenix.

The funniest part of the night was that there were probably more Rangers' fans there than Coyotes' fans. Phoenix is a city of transplants, so the population that roots for the local teams here is small. It was almost like being at a home game there was so much red and blue in the stands.

It was an exciting game, and the Rangers won 5 to 1. Such a fun time! We need more dates like this in the future.

Did you do anything fun or out of the ordinary for Valentine's Day? I'd love to hear about it.

2.13.2015

Madeleine expressed an interest in camping recently. We thought about setting up the tent in the backyard for her, but decided to test the waters with an indoor camping session first.

This was an all "DAD" project. Bill set up the tent in the loft, and Madeleine was so excited to help him and find out what all the different camping gear was and what it was used for. He even bought her marshmallows. The two of them slept in there all night, while I enjoyed a night of Gilmore Girls on Netflix and having the entire bed to myself. So, win-win for Madeleine and me. Bill had fun too, but confessed to an awful night's sleep. However, it was a small price to pay for how happy he made Madeleine that night.

Seamus was pleased as punch to discover the tent the next morning. It ended up being a fun playhouse for them all day.

I don't think we're quite ready to attempt a full on camping trip any time soon, but it was fun practice. I can't wait for my turn next.

Do you like camping? If so, at what age did you start taking your kids? Any tips for camping with little kids?

This recipe wasn't bad as I made it, but would probably have been a lot better if I followed the instructions better. The recipe said to slice the beet very thin. It said you could use a knife, but that a mandolin should really be used if available. Apparently, we actually do have a mandolin type attachment on our food processor, but I was too impatient and tried to slice them by hand instead. They ended up being way too thick, and were not chip-like at all. They still tasted pretty okay though. I have high hopes that if I work on perfecting this recipe it will be a hit.

2.09.2015

I saw Black or White, starring Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer, over the weekend with some friends. I must confess I didn't have much interest in seeing this film, but ended up being pleasantly surprised.

Kevin Costner plays recent widower, Elliot, who has raised his half-black granddaughter, Eloise (played by Jillian Estell) since birth. His daughter died in childbirth with Eloise, and the father is out of the picture. Octavia Spencer plays Rowena, Eloise's paternal grandmother. Now that Elliot's wife has passed too, Rowena feels Eloise would be better off with her, and a bitter custody battle ensues.

This is the second Kevin Costner film I've seen recently (other one here) that has surprised me. He may not be the box office draw he once was, but Kevin Costner can still carry a film. Octavia Spencer also shined, and these two had fantastic chemistry playing off each other. Obviously, race was a big theme here, and the film did a good job of exploring the issue in a real and honest way.

2.06.2015

In August, 2013, I randomly snapped this picture of Madeleine and Seamus that instantly became one of my favorites. It's so rare to get them both looking at the camera and smiling. Madeleine was two and a half and Seamus was 6-months.

In January, 2015 I snapped this one. Madeleine is four and Seamus is 22-months. I didn't even pose them. They were sitting like this already watching a show on an iPad. I just told them both to smile, and they actually did.

As each year passes I get more excited about them. Man, am I glad we are done with infants. Things are less hard now, and more fun (although toddlerhood does present a whole different set of challenges). I like being able to have conversations with Madeleine, and am amazed with how much I can already communicate with Seamus. It's only going to get better.

2.04.2015

I mentioned here that I'm doing the Popsugar 2015 Reading Challenge. I decided to knock out a trilogy early in the year while I still had a lot of reading momentum going on. So, a couple of weeks ago I read the Matched trilogy by Ally Condie - Matched (Book 1), Crossed (Book 2), and Reached (Book 3).

First up, Matched. Like many popular Young Adult novels written lately, Matched takes place in a dystopian future society. Citizens trust the Society to make all their decisions for them...including picking a mate. Seventeen year old, Cassia, believes in the system. She's seen how well it works with her own parents, so when she sees her best friend, Xander's face appear onscreen at her Matching Ceremony she knows he's her perfect match. However, when viewing his micro card at home, a strange thing happens. Xander's face fades away and the face of another boy, Ky, flashes quickly across the screen. What does it mean? Cassia wants answers, and slowly starts to question the Society and all she's ever known. For the first time in her life, she is faced with a choice that only she can make.

You can't help read a story like this and compare it to The Hunger Games and Divergent. These books all have the same premise. Teenagers questioning the world they live in, and going up against those in control to fight for a better way of life. It's not a new idea. I liked Matched because it added a new element I had yet to see before in these types of books...ART.

The Society has chosen the 100 best of everything. 100 best paintings, 100 best movies, 100 best books, 100 best poems, etc. Citizens have no choice beyond these, and have no concept of creating anything on their own. They can't even write, only type. On the day of Cassia's Grandfather's death (you are only allowed to live until 80), he secretly passes down to her two handwritten poems: "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas and "Crossing the Bar" by Alfred Lord Tennyson. I loved the idea of forbidden art, and how exciting and dangerous Cassia finds these poems. She is amazed when she learns Ky secretly can write and draw. Expression is the freedom that Cassia and her gang will fight for, and it really resonated with me.

Next up, Crossed. Society is aware of the danger Cassia presents, and why wouldn't they be? They're aware of everything. She is shipped off to the outer provinces, which turns out to be exactly where she wants to go. Ky is somewhere out there and she is determined to find him and the secret Rebellion she has heard rumor of. She's a child of the Society though. Will she have what it takes to survive outside of their control?

Momentum is key in a trilogy. A lot of them start with a strong book one and then fade in book two. Catching Fire (Book 2 of TheHunger Games trilogy) was essentially a repeat of book one. Insurgent (Book 2 of the Divergent trilogy) moved the story forward, but didn't add much to it. The middle book in a trilogy is hard. It lacks the excitement of both setting up the characters and their world as well as the triumphant conclusion. It's sole purpose is to move the story forward.

Crossed does a great job of doing this while simultaneously providing a new setting and story for the characters. The book primarily takes place in large caverns, and the characters are often battling the elements instead of the Society. Cassia is forced to really examine her beliefs. Yes, the Society eliminated choice in their lives, but they were safe, healthy, and for the most part happy in their ignorance. It also delves into the conflicts that arise when those you love don't agree with your choices. I thought Crossed was a very strong book two

Finally, the conclusion, Reached. Cassia is back in the Society playing her part until the Rebellion begins. She's separated from both Ky and Xander, but committed to the cause. The rebellion begins earlier then expected due to a virus attacking the population. The Rebellion has the cure and easily takes over the weakened and scared Citizens. When the virus mutates though, suddenly all are in danger. The Society and the Rebellion are in a race to develop the cure knowing whichever of them succeeds will ultimately win.

I was thrown a little bit with the whole virus story line in Reached, but I ultimately ended up liking it. They explored a really interesting concept which was the question of whether the Rebellion was even really a rebellion, or just the Society in sheep's clothing. The theme organically changed from rebelling against lower case "s" society to finding your place within it. Both the Society and the Rebellion were flawed, but it was ultimately a good thing to shake things up a bit, and in the end things got better - not perfect, but better. I thought it was a very satisfying and real ending, and liked it better than MockingJay (Book 3 of The Hunger Games trilogy) which was only okay and Allegiant (Book 3 of Divergent trilogy) which was so disappointing.

All in all, I really liked this series. It was a a bit of a fresh take on a genre I'm starting to find tiresome. If nothing else, it's a great way to get your kids to read a bit of poetry and maybe appreciate the importance art has in society.

Have you read any good trilogies lately? I must confess I think I copped out a little on this one. I originally planned on reading Tolkein's Lord of the Rings trilogy, as I've somehow never read them yet. However, I really want to finish the challenge, and need to pick books I can get through quickly. There's probably a huge argument to be had here on quantity versus quality, but I promise to read them next year.

2.02.2015

To refresh your memory, at the beginning of last year I decided to watch all the Disney movies ever made in chronological order. Why, I don't know why, because I'm just weird like that. Lists are my jam, and it gives a sense of purpose to a very un-purposeful use of my time.

The next movie on the list was 1948's So Dear to My Heart.

This is a cute little film about a country boy, Jerry, who adopts a mischievous black lamb and hopes to show him at the County Fair. He learns various life lessons throughout with the help of his Granny, Uncle, and cousin, Tildy.

Like quite a few Disney films before this, So Dear to My Heart, is a mix of live action and animation. Although, for the first time, the animation is not the star. I love that we're starting to see the same actors pop up in each movie too. Bobby Driscoll (Jerry) and Luana Patten (Tildy) were the Miley Cyrus or Selena Gomez of that time. This is the second Disney movie Bobby Driscoll has been in so far, and the third for Luana Patten. This was also the first Disney movie for the great Burl Ives. Even back then, when you were in with Disney, you were set.

I enjoyed the film. It's a little slow, but so sweet and innocent. Disney hadn't quite hit their stride with the live action films yet, but it's a fun taste of the goodness that is yet to come. The live action films of the 50's and 60's are some of my favorites. Stay tuned!